Ha Jin packed her belongings into her purse and took a final glance in her locker mirror before heading out of Seoul's Museum. She had been filling in for her friend, Jae Eun's shift and a part of her started regretting it when she stepped into the cold night without her winter jacket. She gasped as she realized it was the first snowfall. Winter was Ha Jin's favorite season. She loved staying at home watching her melodramas with a cup of hot- chocolate while snuggling underneath layers of blankets. She loved how the cold wind left her cheeks with a natural soft blush, loved layering her outfits with her favorite sweaters, but most of all she loved the snow.

Ha Jin reached out her palm and felt the soft snowflakes against her skin.

"Ha Jin?" she heard Wang So's deep voice from behind her.

Only at the age of 27, Wang So was appointed the director of the museum. She had only spoken to him a couple of times when he had come to inspect their work in the Goryeo make- up line. He had praised her work numerous times and on occasions and had stood afar observing her apply makeup on her clients. His good looks, charisma and wealth made him a hot topic among her female coworkers. That was until last week, when his engagement to Yeon Hwa was announced.

She didn't know how long he had been standing there, probably trying to remember her name. Wang So quirked his eyebrow in question, noticing she was shuddering in her thin blouse.

"Hello " she smiled, bowing her head slightly.

Immediately, being the gentleman he was, he hastily removed his jacket.

He smiled shyly as he handed his jacket to her. "I have a sweater," he said assuring. Ha Jin felt immobilized and was unsure whether she should accept the kind offer.

"We can't afford anymore sick employees." He joked. "Take it"

She reluctantly took it and bowed her head in gratitude.

"I don't think the buses will be coming anytime soon. The weather is quite bad and the transits are on standby." He said matter of factly.

"Do you have any other way of getting home?" concern itched in his voice.

Noticing his concern she quickly reassured him. "Ill give my friend a call no need to worry about me."

She quickly skimmed through her contact list. She knew Chae Ryung had a late shift tonight and she didn't want to disturb Woo Hee, who was on her date with Baek-Ah. Realizing he wasn't going anywhere, she looked up at him embarrassingly and saw him smile knowingly.

"I can drop you off "he offered helpfully.

She felt a blush creep onto her face, but was grateful the cold hid it. " No, no I don't want to trouble you"

"Aigoo, I'm not a stalker"

She bit her lower lip as she realized she didn't have much of a choice.

There was long silence in the car. The car halted at a red light and Ha Jin felt the awkward silence creep in. Wang So cleared his throat and made his first attempt at small talk. "So how is the Goryeo line of make- up doing?"

She wasn't sure if he was asking as a director or if he was simply engaging in small talk to diminish the awkward silence."It's doing quite well, a lot of people are interested in learning the history and the background of the makeup products" she said honestly.

"Hmm, its always fascinated me" he nodded thoughtfully. "Your quite talented in applying it" He flashed her a sideways grin.

"Thank you" She mumbled, sure he had seen her blush."Ah! Congratulations!" she said startling him. "On your engagement"

Ha Jin didn't miss the way his smile turned sad, not reaching his eyes.

"Engagement?" he scoffed, making it look as if he tasted something sour. "Ah...of course, you must have heard"

Ha Jin bit her lip. He must think I gossip about him.

"I don't consider it an engagement" he went on. "Id say its more of a.. business contract, I'm not interested in her"
Ha Jin wasn't sure she should be knowing this information but decided she should stay silent.

The car halted to a full stop as cars started honking loudly. "Aigoo what's with this traffic?" Wang So huffed in annoyance.

"Ill walk from here on out, it will only take half an hour if I take the shortcut" she said realizing that it would take her another hour to get home in this traffic.

"In the dark? Alone?"

She saw the concern in his eyes and for a moment she felt herself wanting to stay. "Yes, I have to go it'll take longer in the car" she said convincing herself rather than him.

"Here, at least take my jacket"

She reluctantly took the black leather jacket that she knew cost more than any of the clothes she owned.

She felt herself exhale a breath she had been holding in when she stepped out of his car. She sighed deeply as she recalled their conversation. She knew heirs, didn't have much of a choice in almost anything, but marriage? A part of her felt sympathetic towards him. He was marrying someone whom he had no love or interest in. But another part of her felt differently, she couldn't exactly give it a name. She was in a daze questioning her own feelings.

Only after she had entered into an unfamiliar alleyway, she realized she was lost. She was too preoccupied figuring out her thoughts. She clutched Wang So's oversized jacket to her chest.

She heard someone whistle from behind her, and an unwelcoming sensation overtook her. With her back still turned she picked up her speed and started walking as fast as her legs could carry her. Two men, who appeared twice her age, cornered her causing her to halt. A chubbier man holding a can of beer joined in. " Where you going pretty lady?"

She took a step back but had no way of escape in mind. And now there were four of them, with cans of beer, crawling in on her. They seemed to be enjoying the terror on her face as they took their time, making slow steps toward her.

" What do you want from me?!" she exclaimed.

The skinner of the man snickered. "Oh we just want you to play with us"

"You have such a attractive figure," the other whistled.

"Why you hiding it behind that oversized jacket?" The one holding the beer questioned, eagerly striding over to her.

He came so close to her, Ha Jin wrinkled her nose. He reeked of alcohol and cigarette. She wrapped her arms around her chest protectively.

"It's way too big for you" one of them sneered.

"Must be her boyfriends, too bad he left her alone"

She felt cold tears fall down, immobilized she couldn't find her voice. She wanted to scream but nothing came out. One of the men tugged the jacket off her shoulders and pushed her against the brick wall and the men roared in approval.

Suddenly, she heard a loud screech of a car tires from a distant.

The rest was a blur to her. How Wang So was able to outdo all four men on his own, how he had known she was there, vulnerable, how he had them running for their lives. She was melted in a corner, with her eyes covering her face. When he came to her side, helping her up, she lost her balance as her eyes registered the blood dripping from his arm.

"Ha Jin? Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere" His eyes rapidly analyzed her body for any signs of injury. He reached for the leather jacket that was lying on the ground and wrapped it around her shoulders.

"You're… " Her voice came out muffled.

"Its okay, Im here" he said gently stroking her shoulder.

"Your arm." she started sobbing uncontrollably, "it's bleeding"

He recalled the chubbier of the men yielding the knife threateningly at his chest, so he had used to his arm to throw him off.

"Here, he said reaching out his hands to take her own. "Ill take you home"

"Your arm?"

"I can handle it"

He opened the car door for her and she slumped in her sit, her eyes still wet with cold tears.

Its my fault. Its my fault, hes hurt.

They drifted into an uncomfortable silence neither of them having anything to say.

No longer able to contain herself she let out a sob and poured her heart out. He pulled out a handkerchief and placed it in her lap.

"How?" she said in a hushed voice. "How did you find me?"

"You left your purse behind" he gestured to it. " So I trailed the way I saw you leave, and no, I wasn't stalking you" he added hoping to lighten up the atmosphere. She giggled in the midst of her flowing tears. Her eyes drifted to the red stain on his arm.

"Your arm? "she said a pained expression itched on her face.

"Its fine" he said calmly.

"No, its bleeding, you need to be admitted to a hospital" she said ignoring his protests.

"I can take care of it myself"

Seeing there was no way to persuade him, "Ill help" she said biting her lower lip.

They stopped by a nearby drugstore and Ha Jin ran in collecting all the first aid material she could find. She gave the cashier a small smile and almost tripped on her way out. When she got back to the car he wore a smirk on his face.

"Im alright, you look like you're in more pain than I am"

She used her teeth to pull the plastic off and unwrapped the cotton cloth hastily. Wang so watched her slender fingers tremble as she poured the rubbing alcohol onto a small piece. Lifting his sleeve, she took the cloth and soaked the blood exposing the cut. He flinched as the cloth stung his exposed skin, She looked up at him apologetically with big watery eyes, and went to wrapping his arm with the cloth, over and over.

When she finally finished dressing his wound, she tied the corners of the cloth together and sighed in relief. Realization hit her then, how close they were to each other. Their breaths mingled together and her eyes slowly met his. He should have been thanking her but he's mouth felt dry and he felt incoherent momentarily. Wang So was fascinated by Ha Jin's genuine concern. He had never seen someone worry about him like this before- not even his own mother.

He reached out in an attempt to touch her face. Her heart began to pound loudly against her chest and she wondered if he could hear it. They wre both startled when Wang So's phone begins to vibrate and hes hand dropped to reach the phone from his back pocket.

Ha Jin tried to cover her disappointment as she straightened her posture. He took his phone out and from her peripheral vision she saw the collar id. Her chest tightened.

"Yeon Hwa"